August is coming to an end and September is already at the door, but the long hot summer in Tuscany is not over yet and there are a lot of interesting and fun events this week to attend. Enjoy!

If you’re on Elba Island this week make sure to check out the music festival. Gelato lovers heaven in Florence with the International Gelato Festival. A rich and varied program of events at the Festival Settembre Prato. Get green at the gardening exhibition Murabilia in Lucca or Go Scottish in Barga. Relive medieval times at Salamarzana in Fucecchio or experience the Renaissance in Scarperia.

Events in Tuscany August 29 to September 4, 2016

Elba Musical Island of Europe | August 31 – September 10 – Elba

When: August 31 till September 10
Where: Elba Island
Entrance: various tickets available starting from 10€
Website

Elba is getting ready to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its classical and jazz music festival with eleven concerts.
Many international musicians will be welcomed to Elba for the first time. Among them, the charismatic pianist Alexander Melnikov and much-appreciated chamber music performers, like cellist Giovanni Gnocchi, violinist Kio Seiler, American violist David Quiggle and the Scottish pianist Alisdair Beatson.

The musical soul of the festival is Maestro Yuri Bashmet, who performs from September 1st to September 5th, in the triple role as soloist, chamber musician and conductor d ‘orchestra.

For this special edition of the festival, concerts will also be performed at the Villa Romana delle Grotte in Portoferraio and on Pianosa Island, part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.

The complete program is available on the website of the festival.

Gelato Festival | September 1 – 4 – Florence

When: September 1 – 4
Where: Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo | 12 pm – 10 pm
Entrance: 12€
Website

The final of the 2016 Gelato Festival will take place on Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, where artisan gelato makers will battle for the title of Best Gelato of Europa.
The 22 competitors have already proven themselves as master gelato makers by winning the first or second place in the local competitions of Milan, Turin, Rome, Parma, Naples, Florence, London, Berlin, and Valencia.
The winner will be determined by an expert jury and by the votes of the public. With the special Gelato Card (12€) you can taste all the competing flavors and attend cookings shows and other attractions.

No doubt all the flavors will be delicious, but we can’t help but root for the Florentine competition winner Alberto Bati of My Sugar with his Araminta flavor.

Settembre Prato | September 1 – 17 – Prato

When: September 1 to 17
Where: Prato (FI), various locations
Entrance: Check the event’s website for prizes and purchase of tickets.
Website

Prato presents a rich program of activities for the annual Festival Settembre Prato. With stars from the Italian music scene, historical parade, nighttime run, folklore, finger food festival, beach soccer, beach rugby, Gimcana Cross and boxing.

Program

September 01 | GIANNA NANNINI – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 02 | VERDENA + MARLENE KUNTZ – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 02 | PIAZZA DEI PICCOLI – Piazza S.M. in Castello
September 03 | GORAN BREGOVIC AND THE WEDDING & FUNERAL BAND – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 04 | CARMEN CONSOLI – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 05 | ELIO E LE STORIE TESE – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 06 | AIR + PSB – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 07 | CAMERATA SONGSPIEL – Piazza Duomo Prato
September 08 | Historical Parade
September 09 | FLUO RUN
September 09 | FINGER FOOD FESTIVAL – Piazza Mercatale
September 10 | PALLA GROSSA 1 – Piazza Mercatale
September 11 | PALLA GROSSA 2 – Piazza Mercatale
September 12 | ARENA OVALE 2016 – Piazza Mercatale
September 13 | BEACH SOCCER ITALIA BRASILE – Piazza Mercatale
September 14 | GYMKANA CLASSIC
September 15 | Boxing FRANCESCO DI FIORE – Piazza Mercatale
September 16 | PALLA GROSSA FINALE – Piazza Mercatale
September 17 | PALLA GROSSA FINALISSIMA – Piazza Mercatale
September 17 | Historical re-enactment – Piazza Mercatale

Murabilia | September 2 – 4 – Lucca

When: September 2 to 4
Where: Lucca
Openings hours: Friday 12pm – 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9.30pm – 7.30pm
Entrance: Tickets 7€, disabled, over 65 and between 8 and 14 years old 3€, free for children under 8 years old. 2-day ticket 11€, 3-day ticket 15€
Website

The Gardening exhibition Murabilia is one of the most significant Italian exhibitions of flowers, plants, and gardening. With 250 Italian and foreign agricultural exhibitors, manufacturers of equipment and garden furniture, Murabilia offers visitors an open-air exhibition in a unique setting along the ancient walls of Lucca. The exhibition reaches its 16th edition and the theme this year is seeds.

Download the map with parking information.

Barga’s Scottish Weekend | September 2 – 4 – Barga

When: September 2 to 4
Where: Barga (LU)
Entrance: Free
Website

The Palio of Pescia is an archery competition between the four districts of the town Pescia. The event takes places in the historical center on Piazza Mazzini on the first Sunday of September.

The side events at the Palio begin the Saturday before the competition, on Piazza del Grano with a street festival with jugglers, fire eaters, etc.

Program

The will be a Scottish market from Friday evening to Sunday in Piazza Angelio and in front of the Town Hall organized by “La Bottega del Pane”, Oro di Scozia, Scotlandforyou.com, and Clan Italia.

September 2 | 8pm | Tasting of Scottish fare (Whisky, Salmon, Fish and Chips, Beer Scottish Ale, Haggis and Steak Pie) various locations in Barga (Shamrock Pub, Bar del PaoloGas, Altana, Locanda di Mezzo, La Gelateria, Scacciaguai, L’Osteria, Enoteca Colordivino, Caffè Capretz, Da Aristo, Osteria Borgo)

September 3
10 pm – Italian National Friendly National Writers vs. Scottish Writers | Stadium “J. Moscardini ”
2.30 pm – Official welcome | At the city hall.
4.30 pm – Presentation “Stories and legends of Scotland – Isle of Skye” by Diletta Nicastro, “The Legend of St. Albert” by Alexander Boretti, “For the honor of Ireland” by Paolo Gulisano | Red Telephone Box Barga
7 pm – Musical aperitif with Scottish ceilidh band and Scottish traditional dancing at the PaoloGas bar, Piazzale del Fosso
8 pm – Dinner in the square with traditional Scottish dancing, Osteria in Piazza Angelio.
8 pm – Tuscan-Scottish 7th national meeting Celtic Supporters Club Dinner at the Shamrock Pub, Piazzale del Fosso

September 4
10 pm – Friendly football match BargaCSC vs The Italian Celts at Barga Tennis Club.
1 pm – Farewell Buffet at the PaoloGas bar, Piazzale del Fosso

Restaurant reservations:
Shamrock Irish Pub +39 388.9051483
Il Bar del PaoloGas +39 347.7167557
Ristorante Altana +39 0583.723192
Locanda di Mezzo +39 366.9589910
La Gelateria +39 347.9427384
Ristorante Scacciaguai +39 0583.711368
L’Osteria +39 335.5387113
Enoteca Colordivino +39 0583 724123
Caffè Capretz +39 0583 724567
Da Aristo +39 0583.723062
Osteria Borgo1 +39 346.6118842

Salamarzana | September 3 – 4 – Fucecchio

When: September 3 and 4
Where: Fucecchio (FI)
Openings hours: Saturday from 6 pm to midnight and Sunday from 4 pm to 9.30 pm.
Entrance: 3€, children under 12 years old free entrance.
Website

The 7th edition of the Salamarzana Festival will fill the streets of Fucecchio on the weekend of September 3rd and 4th. The event program has its foundations on the Fucecchio medieval spent. The medieval town of Fucecchio goes back to its roots with street performances of musicians, jugglers, costumed characters and re-enactments of ancient crafts, military camps. Tastings of wine and typical local and medieval dishes.
Costumed guides give tours around the main monuments of the town such as churches, towers, and palazzi.

Renaissance Festival Scarperia | September 3 – 4 – Scarperia (FI)

When: September 3 and 4
Where: Scarperia (FI)
Openings hours: Saturday from 6 pm to midnight and Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm.
Entrance: Saturday: 5€, children 10-14 years old 4€, children under 10 years old free entrance. Sunday: 8€, children 10-14 years old 6€, children under 10 years old free entrance.
Website

Relive Renaissance times in Scarperia in the Mugello area north of Florence. The streets will be filled with ladies, knights, musicians, performances by minstrels, falconers and much more. Tastings of typical gastronomy, Renaissance market, arts, crafts and historical parades.

Program

Saturday, September 3
6 pm – the town comes alive with arts, crafts and Market
6.30 pm – Florentine jesters (Piazza dei Vicari)
9 pm – Company “Fragments of Verses” presents the show: The delectable goose game (Piazza dei Vicari)
9 pm – Company de’ l’Ordallegri (Piazza Torricella)
9.30 pm – Florentine jesters (Piazza Torricella)
9:45 pm – Falconry (Piazza dei Vicari)
10 pm – Minstrels “Midnight” (Piazza della Torricella)
10:30 pm – Flag throwers and musicians of Castel San Barnaba (Piazza dei Vicari)
11:15 pm – Company of l’Ordallegri (Piazza dei Vicari)

Sunday, September 4
3:30 pm – Florentine jesters (Piazza dei Vicari)
4 pm – Company of l’Ordallegri (Piazza Torricella)
4.15 pm – Jesters of Carretto (Piazza dei Vicari)
5 pm – Falconry (Piazza dei Vicari)
5 pm – Minstrels “Midnight” (Piazza Torricella)
5.45 pm – Company of l’Ordallegri (Piazza dei Vicari)
6 pm – Jesters of Carretto ( Piazza Torricella)
6:30 pm – “Teatro di Paglia” (Piazza dei Vicari)
7 pm – Flag throwers and musicians of Castel San Barnaba (Piazza dei Vicari)
8:30 pm – Florentine jesters (Piazza Torricella)
8:45 pm – Jesters of Carretto (Piazza dei Vicari)
9 pm – Minstrels “Midnight” (Piazza Torricella)
9:30 pm – Falconry (Piazza dei Vicari)
10:15 pm – Company of l’Ordallegri (Piazza dei Vicari)
11 pm – Flag throwers and musicians of Castel San Barnaba (Piazza dei Vicari)

Events in Tuscany August 29 to September 4, 2016